Latvian band Rīgas Modes releases third studio album “Mīla un ziedošanās”

The Latvian band Rīgas Modes has released its third studio album, “Mīla un ziedošanās” (Love and Devotion), available digitally and on vinyl. It was recorded in Riga at the Audilla studio with sound engineer and producer Jānis Eglītis. The album follows the band’s earlier records “Fantastiski” (2016) and “Patiesie nodomi” (2021).

The line-up is Kalvis Bormanis (vocals), Reinis Papulis (guitar), Madara Gaile (keyboards, vocals), Andris Apīnis (bass) and Mareks Ameriks (drums). The band describes the album as personal and classic, dedicated to a perhaps slightly confused generation that lives in a fragmented reality but wants to resist modern algorithms and spend time with its own people.

Contents and guests

The album includes 14 songs and instrumental pieces. Several guest musicians appear on it: composer Uldis Marhilēvičs plays piano on “Tukšas istabas” and “Ēnas uz ielām”, jazz and improvisation musician Staņislavs Judins plays double bass on “Tukšas istabas”, and Jason Hunter, a US jazz musician living in Estonia, plays trumpet on “Vai tu tici horoskopiem?”.

Some of the songs were released earlier: “Kalifornija” in August 2023, “Mīla uz mūžu” in July 2024, “Otrā plāna aktrise” in November 2024, the Latvian-language “Everybody Hurts” in February 2025, “Dienas” in July 2025, and “Vai tu tici horoskopiem?” this summer.

The reviewer calls the album a high-quality, professional work that does not fit a single genre and draws on several decades of pop music. Among the previously unheard tracks, he singles out “Augstākās klases meli” and “Gotu meitene”, which is intended for Radio NABA.

Concerts

To mark the release, the band will play a “Mīla un ziedošanās” mini-tour. It begins on 7 November at the Wiktorija culture house in Liepāja, continues on 27 November at the Mala art space in Cēsis, and ends on 18 December with a concert at Vagonu Zāle in Riga.